The restaurant was in ruins.
Smoke curled through shattered windows. Arin stood over the fallen monster, blood on his shirt, eyes wide with shock.
His aunt slowly stepped forward, hands trembling, staring at him like she was seeing a stranger.
Then—
The front door burst open.
Soldiers stormed in, black armor gleaming under flashing lights. Their weapons were raised, but when they saw the dead creature… they froze.
One lowered his gun slowly.
"Is that… dead?"
Another pointed at Arin.
"Who did this?"
Arin looked up, still dazed.
"…I did."
Silence.
A younger soldier frowned.
"You? That thing's not weak. How did you do it?"
"I… I don't know."
A pause.
Then—
BOOM!
The restaurant shook.
The side wall exploded inward — bricks flew, smoke billowed — and something stepped through the dust.
A giant.
Ten feet tall. Its skin shimmered like armor, muscles pulsing with red energy. Horns curved back from its skull. Its claws dragged across the floor like blades.
Its presence alone choked the air.
The dungeon boss had arrived.
"Gate boss!" the lead soldier shouted. "It's way above D-rank! Everyone, formation—"
Too late.
The monster lunged.
One swipe — CRACK — two soldiers were slammed into the wall.
They didn't move again.
The last soldier stood frozen, aiming his rifle.
"BACK!" he screamed.
The boss charged.
He fired — bullets hit —
But they did nothing.
The monster grabbed him.
SQUELCH.
Its claw pierced through his chest.
Blood splashed across the floor.
The man gasped once — then fell.
Arin's aunt screamed.
His heart stopped.
He was the only one left.
The monster turned to him… and spoke.
Its voice was deep, metallic, and cruel.
"Give me the stone… and I'll spare your life. Your aunt's too."
"I don't have any stone," Arin said, confused.
"You do. I can sense it inside you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Then… you die."
It roared and thrust its claw at Arin's chest — but—
"NO!"
His aunt threw herself in the way.
The claw pierced through her back — right in front of Arin.
Time froze.
She looked at him, blood in her mouth, and smiled weakly.
"Run, Arin… Live. For me."
Then she collapsed.
Arin's hands caught her, trembling.
"…No. No… please…"
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
The monster pulled its arm free, grinning.
But Arin didn't move.
His breath grew sharp.
His body trembled — not in fear… but rage.
He looked up.
His eyes were glowing.
"You… BASTARD."
The floor cracked beneath him as golden light surged from his skin.
Energy exploded outward — wild, furious, alive.
The monster stepped back, startled.
"So… it awakens."
Arin's aura roared like fire.
The pain vanished, replaced by something vast — and powerful.
The boss swung—
But Arin vanished.
Whoosh!
He reappeared behind it — and punched.
CRASH!
The boss flew through the wall — bricks shattered — and it skidded into the street.
Outside, it stood again, snarling.
They clashed.
Both moved at blinding speed — fists and claws slicing through the air, shockwaves shaking the street.
Blow for blow. Step for step.
They matched perfectly.
But Arin grew stronger.
Faster.
Each strike hit harder.
He ducked, spun, and struck — fists blazing with golden light.
The monster tried to keep up.
It couldn't.
Arin broke through its guard—
WHAM!
One punch to the chest.
CRACK!
A spinning elbow to the jaw.
BOOM!
He leapt into the air — light bursting from him — and came down with a final, brutal blow.
KRAKOOM!
The boss crashed into the road.
Concrete split. Smoke rose.
The ground trembled…
Then stilled.
The monster didn't move again.
Arin stood over it, chest heaving, arms shaking, eyes burning with light.
He had won.
But it didn't feel like victory.
He staggered back toward the restaurant — back through the shattered wall, past bloodstained floors and broken tables.
He found her.
His aunt.
Still.
Pale.
Cold.
He dropped to his knees beside her, hands trembling.
"I was fast enough to kill that thing… but not fast enough to save you."
His voice cracked.
"I'm sorry…"
Tears hit the floor. His fingers curled into fists.
She had believed in him. She died protecting him.
And now she was gone.
All he could do was sit in the ruins…
holding the one person who had always been there for him.
To Be Continued…